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Pueblo Zoo
May 154 min read

May the Moths Be with You

Updated: May 21

Smithsonian Institute Record ID: nmnhentomology_9314847


May is here and it’s teeming with miller moths – they’re everywhere! We’re also starting to see the return of flies, ants, spiders, and the occasional sleepy bee. The weather has finally warmed up enough to allow these little, cold-blooded critters to crawl out of the cracks and crevices where they have been over-wintering, protected from the freezing temperatures of winter.

The first insects to return are always the miller moths. They have completed their metamorphosis that began in September on the Eastern Plains as tiny eggs laid underground. In the early spring, the eggs hatched, releasing millions of army cutworms who ate their way through wheat and corn stalks until they were ready to pupate into their adult form – the Miller Moth. Thus begins their annual migration to the mountains where they will feed exclusively on the nectar of wildflowers until their return flight in the fall. Of course, on their way to their summer homes, these clumsy, nocturnal, flying dust balls end up bungling their way into our windows screens, door frames, and outdoor sheds. It is natural that we curse these pesky commuters, but if we look at the big picture, we will see another side of the miller moth.

The body of the miller moth is a rich source of fat and calories for migrating birds. As Mother Nature would have it, the miller moth migration happens just when the first flocks of birds are returning from their winter vacations in South and Central America. Drained from the long flight, miller moths provide just the right meal for our travel-weary, feathered friends. On the night before Mother’s Day this year, 236,000 birds crossed Pueblo County, and spent the early morning hours gobbling up moths before finding a safe roost to rest for the day. As night falls, these birds will either settle in for the summer or resume their northward journey.

Miller moths are just a passing bother, but what about our permanent arthropod neighbors? One of the most misunderstood insects found in our yards is the harvester ant. While it is true that the harvester ant delivers a sting rated 3 out of 5 on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index – they describe it as “bold and unrelenting”, maybe an intriguing tease for a red wine, but definitely NOT for a sting – it is also the main food source of the horned lizard and many other native lizards, amphibians, birds, and arthropods. In addition, just like the prairie dog, harvester ants are a keystone species, albeit in miniature; their activity influences a significant number of other species in the ecosystem. Besides being a prey species for a multitude of animals, harvester ants’ mounds provide homes for other insects, and their excavation aerates the soil making it more friable, a valuable benefit, especially in arid environments like Southern Colorado. Scientists at the University of Colorado – Boulder even collaborate with harvester ants, using their mounds to find prehistoric fossilized teeth, beads from ancient indigenous societies, and fossilized amber.

“Insects may sting or startle us, but they help keep the planet livable,” according to Manuel Canales and Scott Elder of the National Geographic.  They have identified five major roles insects play in the ecosystem:

·      They are an essential prey species for birds, bats, amphibians, and fish;

·      They are decomposers that keep our world clean by processing carcasses and waste;

·      They control pests that feed on our food crops;

·      They pollinate the plants that provide our fruits and vegetables; and

·      They are soil engineers that aerate hard ground, creating tunnels for water to seep into, turning infertile dirt into arable soil.

“But by the end of the century, up to 40% of the world’s insect species may go extinct owing in part to habitat loss,” as reported by the World Wildlife Fund.

So how can we live peacefully with arthropods?

·      First, keep yourself safe from painful bites and insect-borne diseases by using appropriate insect repellants when you are exploring outdoor spaces. You can find safe, effective products at the Environmental Protection Agency.

·      Avoid using pesticides around your house by finding alternative ways to control unwanted, harmful insects. Colorado State University offers helpful tips in their Pesticide Alternatives Factsheet.

·      Replace your outdoor lightbulbs with yellow bulbs that do not attract nocturnal moths to your home or confuse migrating insects. Click here for information sheets about outdoor lighting from Dark Skies International: 

·      Support native pollinators by buying Local Hive Honey “which donates a portion of proceeds from every bottle sold to Butterfly Pavilion’s PACE initiative which aims to promote and protect the prosperity of pollinators worldwide”

·      Cultivate insect-friendly outdoor spaces: you can plant native wildflowers to supply nectar and vegetation for native insects which then support birds and other native wildlife. And Homegrown National Park also provides a list of Keystone Species for native insects that can be grown in a planter.

The Thompson Earth Systems Institute reminds us that, “With an estimated 5.5 million species, insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. More than one million have been named by scientists — and many more have yet to be discovered. In fact, insects account for 80% of animal life on Earth.”  We can learn to embrace insects – safely – with just a few minor changes to our usual routines and by learning more about these fascinating, beneficial animals.

 

 

References:

Ways to support Insects:

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